What Damage Does Acidic Foods and Drinks Cause to Teeth?

Many people think that foods and drinks that damage teeth must contain sugar. However, many foods and drinks do not contain sugar but are harmful to our teeth.

WHAT ARE THE SUGAR-FREE DRINKS THAT DAMAGE YOUR TEETH?

When there is additional wear and tear caused by acidic drinks, sometimes cavities accompany this. When faced with such a problem, part of the solution is to stay away from acidic drinks. Sugar-free Coke, soda, and even soda with lemon in it are the most common.

WHY DO TEETH WEAR AND DECAY DESPITE NOT EATING SWEETS?

Many people know that diet is the primary cause of tooth decay and erosion. Sugar is the primary culprit here. But as we have explained in this blog post, many people were not aware of the danger beyond sugar. Moreover, when it comes to tooth decay, sugar is not the only dietary problem.

While most of us know that sugar feeds bacteria that cause cavities in the mouth, most of us are unaware of the acidic residues that form after consuming other foods. Dietary acids can also form in the mouth after consuming milk, meat, and grains.

Our bodies need acid to function properly. However, like many things, when this level increases, the environment in the mouth becomes acidic.

WHAT SHOULD BE THE PH RATE IN THE MOUTH?

Let's remember that we learned about the pH scale in middle school and science classes. If the pH is below 7.0, the acidity is high, and if it is above 7.0, there is a basic environment. Research shows that a pH above 4.0 is the best for the ideal environment for teeth.

WHAT ARE THE MOST HARMFUL DIETARY ACIDS?

1. fruit juices

2.Sports drinks

3.Fizzy drinks, soda

4.coffee, tea, alcohol

5. Meat and cheese are acidic foods.

When consuming acidic drinks for a healthy life, their amounts are also important. When consumed more than 2-3 times a day, these seemingly innocent healthy drinks trigger dietary acid. Because normally the minerals in saliva buffer this acidic environment. But this buffering is not possible.

HOW DO WE PROTECT TEETH FROM ACIDS?

While discussing sugar and acids in diet, it is also necessary to emphasize the importance of dental and oral hygiene.

MORE WATER CONSUMPTION

After consuming acidic drinks and sugary foods, it is necessary to rinse the mouth and drink water. It is effective in solving the problem to meet the need for water consumption with pure water instead of soda and mineral water. This should be done gradually and over a few days. Spreading the consumption of acidic and sugary drinks throughout the day increases the damage.

We can shorten the time the tooth is exposed to acid. So, let's consume diet and sugar-free drinks knowing that they are not innocent. Fizzy drinks and sugar-free sports drinks are also in this group.

Although sports drinks do not contain carbohydrates, they do contain acids that sweeten and preserve the product. The combination that gives the drink its fresh and fizzy taste is quite acidic. After these types of acidic foods and drinks, the mouth's buffering mechanism works. The minerals in saliva can do this buffering. Chewing gum and drinking water during this time supports this mechanism.

ARE THERE SPECIAL PASTE TO PREVENT ACID EROSION?

The use of special pastes is very important in preventing acid erosion. It is balancing.

Dr. Güzin Kırsaçlıoğlu